Art Research Center –International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC),
Ritsumeikan University
Guidelines for FY 2024 International Joint Research with Research Fund
The Art Research Center (ARC), Ritsumeikan University, has been actively promoting joint research that
integrates the humanities and cutting-edge information technology, with its research focus on digitalarchiving of Japanese cultural properties, both tangible and intangible. Selected as an International Joint
Usage/Research Center Program by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,
Japan in FY 2019, the ARC has been providing an environment to further promote the construction of digitalarchives. By utilizing this environment, researchers can vigorously pursue research on Japanese culture whileconstructing their own digital archives. Now, we are calling for international joint research proposals asfollows.
I. About International Joint Research with Research Fund
There are three types of projects:(A) International Fixed Theme Project: An international joint research project that works on one of thefollowing themes set by the ARC, with its digital system infrastructure and technical support
provided.
1: Joint research to digitally archive and utilize Japanese art and cultural resources at museums
abroad.
2: Joint research to construct and/or utilize digital archives targeting cultural resources, such as
World Cultural Heritages and intangible cultural heritages in Japan and beyond, that makes
international comparative studies possible.
3: Joint research to contribute to the global society beyond the Humanities area by suggesting newways to utilize cultural resources through the development of digital-archiving technologies topromote digital archives drastically.
(B) International Open Theme Project: An international joint research project that works on an open theme
set by the research team. The project is required to utilize the ARC’s digital resources listed below andrelated research material for its research. The leader of the research project should be based outsideJapan.
(C) Open Theme Project: A joint research project that works on an open theme set by the research team.
The project is required to utilize the ARC’s digital resources listed below and related research materialfor its research.
The list of ARC’s digital resources for Types (B) and (C):Japanese history, historical GIS, Japanese arts and crafts, Japanese literature, Japanese performing arts,
Japanese movies, videogames, TV commercials, etc.
Please note that Types (A), (B), and (C) of the International Research with Research Fund are designated as
start-up funds to start research by using the research environment of the Center. Basically, a “on-goingresearch,” funded in FY 2023, is not accepted. From the second year on, the research project is expected tomove onto the “Joint Research to Utilize the Center's Facilities and Equipment” type or “Joint Research toUtilize the Center's Database System” type project, which will secure your free access to the Center’s
technical support, databases and other digital research infrastructure (ARC Research Space). If you wish tocontinue your research in FY 2024 on the same theme as the project selected in FY 2023, please submit anapplication that clearly explains the reason why you were unable to start in full swing utilizing the ARC
Research Space.
II. Eligibility
The research leader of the joint research team should be a faculty member/researcher/curator affiliated with auniversity or a research institution (graduate students excluded). For Type (B), the leader should be a faculty
member/researcher/curator affiliated with a university or a research institution overseas (including thosebased in Japan on sabbatical).
III. Organization of a research team
1. A research team consists of a researcher (research leader) or researchers (research leader and coresearchers).
2. While we recommend that a faculty member of the ARC (except for senior researchers, researchers,visiting collaborative researchers) is included as a member of your research team, you can also
apply without one. In either case, the ARC-iJAC Technical Support Board is available for support.
Successful applicants can contact the Technical Support Board for more details.
IV. Research period
April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025 (scheduled)
V. Amount of research funds to be awarded for each type of proposal(A) International Fixed Theme Project: Up to seven hundred thousand yen (planned)(B) International Open Theme Project: Up to four hundred thousand yen (planned)(C) Open Theme Project: Up to three hundred thousand yen (planned)-

The research fund can be used to cover expenses necessary for conducting joint research in line with
Ritsumeikan University’s Guidelines for Research Funding Spending.
The university’s research office will manage the fund.
The fund cannot be used for purchases of equipment worth more than 500,000 yen and indirect
expenses payable to organizations that the applicant belongs to.
The ARC may change the type of a research project among A, B, and C upon selection.
The International Joint Research Reviewing Committee may reduce the research fund from the amountrequested in the application.
If you are continuing an “ongoing research” from the previous fiscal year, you cannot use the researchfund for FY 2024 until you submit a final report for FY 2023.

VI. How to submit a proposal
Please submit the application form for FY 2024 International Joint Research with Research Fund by e-mail.
The application form is available on the ARC website: https://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/index.html
Application deadline: January 22 (Mon), 2024, 12:00 noon (JST)Submit to: Office of the Art Research Center
Research Office at Kinugasa Campus
Ritsumeikan University
E-mail: r-darc@st.ritsumei.ac.jp
We will send you a confirmation of receipt by the next business day. If you did not receive a confirmation bythen, please contact the Office of the Art Research Center.
VII. Selection process and notification
The International Joint Research Reviewing Committee of the Art Research Center will evaluate the research
proposals. We will send out the evaluation results in late March 2024 by e-mail.

Please note that we consider the following points when evaluating proposals:- Whether or not a project utilizes the database system, digital research resources, and related researchmaterials operated by the ARC to promote international joint research.
- Whether or not a project can make progress in constructing its own digital archive and develop theown research by utilizing the ARC Research Space.
- Whether or not the research plan and research expenses have been well thought out to achieve theresearch objectives.
- Whether or not a project includes plans to develop its activities internationally. (For Type A and B)- Whether or not a project is expected to get involved in international activities.
- Whether or not a project is interdisciplinary, combining the humanities and sciences.
- Whether or not a project helps to foster young researchers, such as PhDs who received the degree
within 8 years and graduate students.
- Whether or not a project is expected to develop new research activities, such as by combining both realand online environments, and disseminate research results that would be feasible in the society beyond
the COVID-19 pandemic.
VIII. Research outcomes
1. We strongly encourage you to submit your research outcomes to the center’s academic journal ARTRESEARCH. We also kindly ask you to actively disseminate your research outcomes in the digital space,such as by submitting them to other academic journals, publishing them online, and further developing
your database. You can also introduce your research activities and present your research outcomes at
one of our International ARC Seminars held twice a month.
2. After the end of the fiscal year, the research team is expected to submit its research outcomes in areport, which the ARC will publish on its website and include in its academic journal ARTRESEARCH.
3. For adopted joint research projects, it is compulsory to present an outline of the project at the ARC
Days and a report on the research outcomes at the Annual Report Meeting.
4. Copyrights related to the research outcomes belong to their authors/creators/database builders.
5. Research outcomes should be shared with researchers from other universities and research institutions
unless in the case of special circumstances.
*You can control whether or not the database content of your research project is made available to thepublic or shared with other projects.
IX. Notes
1. The ARC invites the research leader to be a visiting researcher of the Kinugasa Research
Organization, Ritsumeikan University--the umbrella organization to which the ARC belongs. Visiting
researchers may use designated research facilities, equipment, and resources of Ritsumeikan
University and the ARC in accordance with the rules of the university and this center. They can also
use the online conference system Zoom by acquiring a Rainbow User ID (maximum number ofparticipants: 300).
2. Before submitting a research proposal, research leaders shall, in principle, secure agreements not onlyfrom their affiliated research organization for applying for the International Joint Research but also
from the co-researchers for their participation.
3. To foster young researchers, we may ask you to allow graduate students of Ritsumeikan University tojoin the research project.
4. Incomplete applications, including the research expenses column, will result in a deduction of points
within the reviewing process.
5. In the case of misconduct, such as research misconduct and misuse of research funds, or in the casein which the ARC determines that the project shall interfere with the normal activities of the centeror cause significant disadvantage to the center or the university, the project may be canceled.

X. Contact
Y. Sato (Mr), Emily (Ms)International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC)
Office of the Art Research Center, Research Office at Kinugasa Campus,Ritsumeikan University
Tel: 075-465-8476/075-466-3411 (office hours: weekdays 9:00-17:30)
E-mail: r-darc@st.ritsumei.ac.jp